Hawai'i Plant World Essentials: A Guide to Wise Plant Choices

This plant identification guide offers a practical and fundamental approach to helping landowners and local residents make informed decisions about plant control and propagation choices in Hawai'i. It offers lists and images of the most common Hawaii lowland plant species according to native, Polynesian-introduced, and invasive species distinctions. The goal of this work is to promote more awareness of Hawai'i vegetation species, issues, and solutions; inspire appreciation and re-integration of native species into the lowland environment; and support the control of invasive species that threaten not only native forest integrity, but environmental balance at large. Despite some plant variations, the information provided in this booklet can generally be helpful to landscapes across the Hawaiian Islands. As we continue to lose many native ecosystems to urbanization, agriculture, and invasive species in Hawai'i, there is a growing need to restore and conserve a full range of native biodiversity and forest types across the entire elevation gradient.Though the process of invasion by exotic species at lower elevations cannot be entirely reversed, remaining native plant species and communities can be supported in their re-establishment and resilience. With focused community awareness and intention, lowland vegetation communities, and the general lower elevation landscape, can be greatly improved in native biodiversity and ecosystem health.